Tools - The Right Tool For The Right Job

Whether or not you're mechanically inclined, if you're like most people you at least have some kind of tool kit in your home. With all the different tools that there are, this can range from a small packet of a couple of screwdrivers, a hammer and a wrench, to a full blown box of just about everything you could possibly want.

But when something needs to be fixed, how do you know what tool to use?

Certainly if you want to hammer a nail into a wall you're not going to use a wrench to do this. But what kind of hammer would be best to use for this job? Yes, believe it or not, there are different types of hammers.

For example, There is the traditional claw hammer. This is the most popular hammer available for general chores. The claw of the hammer is naturally curved and has a V cutout to pull nails out of wood. You can also use the claw to lever up floorboards or other places where you might want to use a lever.

Then there is the ball pein hammer. The striking end, or pein, is rounded and is normally used for shaping metal and closing rivets.

Of course you have your cross and straight pein hammer. This can also be used for shaping metal. The most useful hammer for domestic purposes is the cross pein. This can be used for starting panel pins and tacks.

What tool box would be complete with the good old club hammer? This hammer has a double faced head and is usually used for light demolition work. It is great for driving steel chisels and masonry nails.

And there are others, but you get the idea. With all these hammers to choose from, if you simply wanted to hammer a nail into a wall to hang a picture, which hammer would you use? Well, you'll probably want to use the claw hammer. Why? Simple. If the nail gets bent you can use the claw portion to straighten it out or remove the nail completely if it can't be saved. None of the other hammers can do that.

What about screwdrivers?

There are different types of screwdrivers as well. The handles are all relatively the same but what makes them all different is the screwdriver tip. Below are just a few of the most common screwdriver tips.

First, you have your most common tip which is the flat head or regular tip. These are usually used with large heavy screws.

Another very popular screwdriver tip is what is called the Phillips Head. These are used on cross slotted screw heads. You'll usually find screws of this type on electronics products such as radios.

Then you have your hex screwdriver tips. These are usually used for repair work in the electronics field, mostly for TV repair. The screws are in a hexagonal shape and also used for DVDs, VCRs and other devices in this area.

So what screwdriver do you use if you want to remove the back from your portable radio? Well, you're going to have to actually look at the screw to match it up but most likely it's a Phillips Head. Trying to unscrew this with anything else will be an exercise in futility.

The right tool for the right job. It may sound corny and clichéd, but it will save you a lot of aggravation in the end.

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Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Tools
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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com